ND police chief, ex-judge faces 52 charges; accused in molestation, attempted rape of girl

ND police chief, ex-judge charged in abuse case

BISMARCK, N.D. — A North Dakota police chief and former state district judge has been charged with 52 felonies that accuse him of molesting and trying to rape a girl over the course of five years.

Authorities said Friday that 55-year-old Randall Hoffman is accused of having sexual contact with the girl beginning in 2005. A criminal complaint says Hoffman “engaged in at least 50 sexual acts” with the girl, who is now 17, from August 2008 until this month, then attempted to rape her Wednesday.

Hoffman is the police chief in Elgin, where prosecutors say he is the only police officer.

He appeared by video at a hearing Friday and was ordered held on a $500,000 cash bond. Hoffman requested a court-appointed lawyer and said nothing about the allegations. He did not respond to messages left on the jail’s voicemail system.